Knockdown display rack



B. F. BEACH KNOCKDOWN DISPLAY RACK June l0, 1952 Filed March 14. 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Gttorneg S `une 10, 1952 B. F. BEACH 2,600,191

KNocKDowN DISPLAY RACK Filed March 14. 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Snventor BEM/ANW F. 55A cH um v ttornegs Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED ,STAT ES PATE NT OFF ICE.

' 2,600,191 'Y v KNOGKDOWN DISPLAYv RACK Benjamin F. Beach, Fairway,Kans.` Application March A14, 1949, Serial No.'81,3 05 3, claims. (ci. zii- 148) This invention relates to display racks. particularly for exhibiting articles of` merchandise such as luggage and similar items in prominent locations so that they are immediately observed by persons entering a store.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a rack of this character having a simple and linexpensiveconstruction which can be shipped to the merchant knocked down in a compact package andY erected by the merchant without the use of bolts, screws or tools.

Other objects of the invention are'to provide a display rack which may :be formed of lightweight rod or wire-like material; to provide a structure wherein the parts merely slip into position and interlock to form a rigidand stabledisplay; and to provide a rack structure which does not mar or injure the merchandise.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display rack constructed in accordance with the present invention and particularly adapted for displaying merchandise such as pieces of matched luggage.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the shelf units employed in the display rack.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper end of one of the side members of the rack, particularly illustrating the cross bars for providing a pocket for receiving terminal ends of the shelves.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the upper end of the opposite side of the rack and adjacent shelf showing the interlocking relation of the shelf terminal with the cross bars.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the rack.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a display rack constructed in accordance with the present invention and which comprises side members 2 and 3 interconnected by a plurality of transverse shelf members 4. The side members of the rack are preferably formed of rod or Wire-like material to provide laterally spaced legs 5 and 6 with the lower portions 'I substantially perpendicular and the upper portions 8 inclined inwardly toward the opposite side of the rack to provide a substantially pyramid-like structure. The lower ends of the legs have the terminals 9 bent reversely to lie along the body of the wire and provide rounded portions I 0 to prevent marring of the floor. The

2.. legs are connected. transverselyy at substantially the., level of the respective shelves by pairs of transverse bars II and I2, the upper bars-of each pair having their ends fixed as byv welding orv the like to the inner sides.y of thevlegs Vand thelower bars f`I I` are similarly attachedy to the outer sides toprovide a passageway or pocket. therebetween for interlocking engagement with the. shelves; 4.

Each shelf 4 is also formed of wire-like material shaped to provide parallel horizontal rails I3 and I4 corresponding in length to thespacing between the side members of the rack at the level of. the respective shelves. Each rail I3` and I4 terminates at its respective. ends inl downwardly extending terminals I5v and I6 that areinterconnected with the space between thelegs of the respective side members of the rack. Each shelf is preferably formed of a single piece-offrod or wire bent intermediate its ends to provideY one of the horizontal ties I1 and terminal portions Iand I6 at that end of the shelf. The rods are also bent substantially laterally as at I8 to form the rails I3 and I4, the opposite ends are bent as at I9 to provide the terminal portions I5. I6 and cross tie I'I at that end of the shelf. The ends forming the bar portion I'I are preferably welded together as indicated at 20 to maintain the depth of the respective shelves.

In packaging the rack, the side members 2 and 3 may be placed one on top of the other and the shorter shelves 4 are nested within the longer shelves so that they may be placed compactly on top of the side frames. The knocked-down rack may then be packaged in a substantially long, flat carton and shipped to the merchant for assembly.

The rack is readily assembled by placing the side members in substantially the relationship they assume in the assembled rack and the lowermost shelf is inserted between the lower pairs of bars II and I2 by passing the horizontal tie portion I1 over the upper rails 9 with the tie portions I'I passing into the pockets formed between the transverse bars II and I2. When the ends of the horizontal rails I3 and I4 seat upon the upper bars I2, the horizontal tie portion Il of the shelf is located slightly below and at the inside of the bars I I whereby the shelf and side members are interlocked and retained in substantially rigid position. The other shelves may be similarly attached to the side frames and when the rack is completely assembled the shelves rigidly space the side members throughout the height of the rack and provide support for the articles of merchandise such as the articles of luggage which may be placed on the respective shelves as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a rack that is oi' simple and inexpensive construction and which may be shipped knocked down and readily assembled by the merchant without the use of bolts, screws or tools.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A display rack including opposite side members each having laterally spaced legs and vertically spaced pairs of transverse bars with the upper bar of each pair fixed to inner sides oi' said legs and the lower bar of each pair spaced below and xed to the outer sides of said legs to provide a pocket between the bars of each pair of transverse bars substantially in plane with the legs of the respective side members, and shelves having parallel rails spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the legs of the respective side members and having support on the upper transverse bars and provided with terminals extending downwardly over outer sides of said upper transverse bars and into said pockets in parallelism with the legs of the respective side members and in bearing contact with inner sides of the lower transverse bars, and said shelves having ties holding the rails in said spaced apart relation.

2. A display rack including opposite side members each having laterally spaced legs and vertically spaced pairs of transverse bars with the upper bar of each pair iixed to inner sides of said legs and the lower bar of each pair spaced below and iixed to the outer sides of said legs to provide a pocket between the bars of each pair of transverse bars substantially in plane with the legs of the respective side members, and shelves having parallel rails spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the legs of the respective side members and having support on the upper transverse bars and provided with terminals extending downwardly over outer sides of said upper transverse bars into said pockets in parallelism with the legs of the respective side members and in bearing contact with inner sides of the lower transverse bars, and said shelves having ties interconnecting said terminals of the rails holding said rails in said spaced apart relation.

3. A display rack including opposite side members convergingY toward each other, each of said side members having laterally spaced legs and vertically spaced pairs of transverse bars with the upper bar of each pair xed to inner sides of said legs and the lower bar of each pair spaced below and iixed tothe outer sides of said legs to provide a pocket between the bars of each pair of transverse bars substantially in plane with the legs oi' the respective side members, and shelves having parallel rails spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the legs of the respective side members and having lengths for support on the inner bars and provided with terminals diverging downwardly over outer sides of said upper transverse bars in parallelism with the legs of the respective side members and in bearing contact with inner sides of the lower transverse bars, and said shelves having ties holding the rails in said spaced apart relation.

BENJAMIN F. BEACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,334,032 Holwick Mar. 16, 1920 1,940,454 Karnes Dec. 19, 1933 2,254,770 Bitney Sept. 7, 1941 2,313,245. Kent Mar. 9, 1943 2,315,595 Chappory Apr. 6, 1943 

